Tracy Wins Provisional Pole in Cleveland

Published 8:00 pm, Wednesday, July 2, 2003

Tempers were short in the afternoon heat Thursday as drivers jockeyed on a slick, bumpy track during the first day of qualifying at the CART Cleveland Grand Prix.

"A bit scrappy, wasn't it?" said rookie Darren Manning.

Paul Tracy, CART's season series points leader, won the provisional pole after some testy qualifying for Saturday's race, which will be run at night for the first time in 22 years.

Tracy, who won the season's first three events, turned a lap in 58.40 seconds, nearly one-half second ahead of his Players' teammate and defending champion Patrick Carpentier (58.86). Rookie Sebastien Bourdais was third (59.16).

By winning the provisional pole, Tracy picked up one point in the standings _ his 100th _ and is guaranteed a front-row start Saturday when drivers will be running under temporary lights set up along the 2.106-mile, 10-turn course on the runways of Burke Lakefront Airport.

"I think it's great," Tracy said of night racing. "If you haven't seen it yet, it's very exciting."

Tracy, Carpentier and Boudrais all spun off the track during the 40-minute provisional pole session, which was held in the late afternoon with muggy temperatures in the mid-80s and about four hours before sunset.

Two practice sessions were held Thursday night, which was the first time drivers had been on the track after sundown. Several cars went off the course at night, including Bourdais.

There was only one notable incident, however, as rookie Mario Haberfeld went nose first into one of the tire barriers.

"I think they need to improve the lighting a little bit, because there were a couple of corners where you couldn't see properly," Oriol Servia said.

Following the night session, drivers made suggestions to the race stewards to improve the lighting.

On Friday, qualifying will take place from 8:30-9:30 p.m., which will give drivers a much better idea of what they'll be facing Saturday when the course is illuminated by 21 lighting trucks for the 8:30 start.

"I hope it's not going to be pitch black," Tracy joked.

Tracy wasn't laughing when he did a 360-degree spin and briefly left the track while coming out of Turn 4. He also angered Michel Jourdain, who accused Tracy of blocking.

"I am very, very, disappointed with Paul," said Jourdain, currently third in the points standings. "Every lap he backed out (slowed down) before the last chicane when I was coming. When he finished his run, I had one timed lap left, and he parked it in the first chicane.

"It just kills me that nothing is being done about this."

Carpentier, too, lost control and spun out into the infield grass. While making his way back, he cut in front of Jimmy Vasser, who is eighth after the first round of qualifying.

That didn't sit well with Jourdain, either.

"I am not sure what strategy Players is running, but they are out there blocking everyone," Jourdain said. "It is frustrating. It isn't like this is a new thing with them. Paul had exactly the same problem with a lot of drivers at Portland."

This is CART's second night race this season. In May, the series ran The Milwaukee Mile under the lights to rave reviews. However, that was on a 1-mile oval, where drivers only had to worry about making four left-hand turns.

"It will be interesting to see if some of the guys who go off course can find their way back," Carpentier quipped.